Jia Chong vs Liu Xiang

Jia Chong married a daughter of Sima Zhao, strengthening his ties to the Sima clan. This marriage aligned him with the future Jin dynasty and ensured his political survival after the Cao Wei collapse. It also gave him influence over succession matters.

Jia Chong ordered the assassination of Emperor Cao Mao after the emperor led a coup against Sima Zhao. When Cao Mao attacked Sima Zhao's residence, Jia Chong's troops killed him. This act eliminated the last Cao emperor who resisted Sima control.

Jia Chong was appointed Minister of Works under the Jin dynasty, becoming one of its highest-ranking officials. He played a key role in consolidating Sima Yan's rule and was instrumental in the conquest of Wu, serving as a strategist and administrator.

Liu Xiang, as imperial librarian, compiled the Bie Lu, the first comprehensive catalog of Chinese texts. He organized and edited thousands of scrolls from the imperial library, preserving many ancient works. This catalog became the foundation for later bibliographic scholarship.

Liu Xiang compiled the Zhan Guo Ce (Strategies of the Warring States), a collection of political anecdotes and diplomatic strategies from the Warring States period. This work became a key historical source for that era and influenced Chinese political thought.

Liu Xiang edited and organized the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), a mythological geography text. His editorial work helped standardize this ancient text, which became a foundational work in Chinese mythology and geography.